F E S T I VA L F E AT U R E S | Havana After Dark
CARIBBEAN CARIBBEAN
KING KING As a Cuban dance party heats up the Fringe, Kelly Apter speaks to the young dancer destined to inherit Carlos Acosta’s crown
moment, my friendship with him began to grow moment, my friendship with him began to grow and now it’s a great honour to have him as my and now it’s a great honour to have him as my friend and advisor.
‘He said to me, “If you want to do something ‘He said to me, “If you want to do something in your life, try and do it in the best possible in your life, try and do it in the best possible way,” and now my career is stamped with his way,” and now my career is stamped with his style. Everything about Carlos’ life and way style. Everything about Carlos’ life and way of dancing has inspired me, and continues to of dancing has inspired me, and continues to inspire me.’
Shades of the young Acosta are in evidence Shades of the young Acosta are in evidence when watching 21-year-old Rittoles dance on when watching 21-year-old Rittoles dance on . Rittoles’ powerful stage in Havana After Dark. Rittoles’ powerful turns and leaps are sublime, his balletic grace turns and leaps are sublime, his balletic grace refi ned as he partners fellow-classical ballet refi ned as he partners fellow-classical ballet dancer, Barbara Patterson. It’s a remarkable dancer, Barbara Patterson. It’s a remarkable contrast to the rest of the show, which is packed contrast to the rest of the show, which is packed with hi-octane mambo, rumba and salsa, with hi-octane mambo, rumba and salsa, performed by eight dancers and backed by a performed by eight dancers and backed by a stunning live Cuban band.
This year, Havana celebrates This year, Havana celebrates its 500th its 500th anniversary, and alongside the uplifting and anniversary, and alongside the uplifting and incredibly tight music and dance (Cuba has incredibly tight music and dance (Cuba has some of the best dance training in the world) some of the best dance training in the world) is a brief sprinkling of fascinating history about is a brief sprinkling of fascinating history about the city.
Rittoles and Patterson, who trained at the Rittoles and Patterson, who trained at the same ballet school, also join in some of the same ballet school, also join in some of the Latin dances, but their hearts lie in the classical Latin dances, but their hearts lie in the classical realm. That said, they’re both enjoying the realm. That said, they’re both enjoying the Havana After opportunity to live it up a little in Havana After Dark.
D aniel Rittoles was just seven years old when the talent scouts came calling. Up until then, his only interest had been taekwondo, but when the teachers from the Cuban National Ballet School arrived, they knew they had found someone special.
Having seen Rittoles’ incredible performance in Fringe music and dance hit Havana After Dark, it’s easy to see why. Although back then, not everybody thought the same way.
‘I was the only person in my school to pass the selection audition,’ recalls Rittoles (pictured, right). ‘But I come from a military family, all the men are soldiers, so ballet was something very different for us. I travelled to the fi rst workshop on my own because they didn’t want me to go.’ particularly unimpressed. A general who had fought in the revolution alongside Fidel Castro, he wasn’t about to stand by and watch his young grandson take a ballet class. grandfather was
Rittoles’
‘My grandfather came to take me out of the class,’ says Rittoles, ‘and even though the director of the school tried to speak to him, they couldn’t change his mind. But I liked what I did that fi rst day in class, and when my family asked me if I really wanted to dance, I said yes, it feels good. So then everything began.’ How times have changed. Accepted into the National Ballet of Cuba after he fi nished his training, Rittoles was soon promoted to soloist – and now, his family (grandfather included) fi ght over who’s getting the theatre tickets to see him perform.
Ironically, it’s the polar opposite story to Carlos Acosta, the Cuban dancer who moved to London and set the Royal Ballet ablaze for 17 years. the Royal Ballet ablaze for 17 years. Acosta’s father practically bullied him Acosta’s father practically bullied him into becoming a dancer, knowing the into becoming a dancer, knowing the opportunities it would present. And opportunities it would present. And now, Acosta is helping Rittoles follow now, Acosta is helping Rittoles follow in his footsteps. ‘Carlos has always been an idol of ‘Carlos has always been an idol of mine,’ says Rittoles. ‘I fi rst had an mine,’ says Rittoles. ‘I fi rst had an opportunity to meet him when I was at opportunity to meet him when I was at ballet school, to talk to him and listen ballet school, to talk to him and listen to his story and advice. From that to his story and advice. From that
10 THE LIST FESTIVAL 14–26 Aug 2019
‘There’s a world of difference ‘There’s a world of difference for us as dancers,’ explains for us as dancers,’ explains Patterson. ‘In classical ballet, Patterson. ‘In classical ballet, everything is fi xed in place and everything is fi xed in place and specifi c, it’s all locked. Whereas specifi c, it’s all locked. Whereas in this show, you can improvise, in this show, you can improvise, you can do things differently and you can do things differently and express yourself.
recently recently ‘Daniel is a wonderful person ‘Daniel is a wonderful person and an excellent dance partner. and an excellent dance partner. We only met to We only met to rehearse the show, but already rehearse the show, but already have a very special connection have a very special connection that shines. I can enter the that shines. I can enter the stage dancing with him without any sense of fear, I know it will any sense of fear, I know it will go well.’
agrees: agrees:
Rittoles Rittoles ‘It’s an ‘It’s an to dance incredible experience incredible experience to dance with Barbara. I’ve never felt such with Barbara. I’ve never felt such a connection with another dancer a connection with another dancer in such a short space of time.’
It’s unusual to fi nd a classical It’s unusual to fi nd a classical ballet dancer who can embrace ballet dancer who can embrace the Latin styles so instinctively, the Latin styles so instinctively, but in Cuba it’s in the blood. but in Cuba it’s in the blood. So whether Rittoles is sweeping So whether Rittoles is sweeping through the air in a pas de deux, through the air in a pas de deux, or joining in a group rumba, he’s or joining in a group rumba, he’s a force to be reckoned with.
‘ I
incredible dancing incredible dancing feel feel incredible dancing feel it’s my it’s my ballet, because ballet, because ballet, because it’s my life,’ he says. ‘When I’m life,’ he says. ‘When I’m life,’ he says. ‘When I’m dancing, I don’t need to dancing, I don’t need to dancing, I don’t need to think about anything else, think about anything else, think about anything else, I escape into an inner world I escape into an inner world I escape into an inner world and forget all my problems, and forget all my problems, and forget all my problems, it’s it’s it’s possession. completely completely completely
a a a
natural natural natural
‘But with the other styles, I’m ‘But with the other styles, I’m remembering my country and my remembering my country and my remembering my country and my Cuban identity. Cuban music lifts Cuban identity. Cuban music lifts Cuban identity. Cuban music lifts the spirt and brings a feeling of the spirt and brings a feeling of the spirt and brings a feeling of complete enjoyment deep inside.’ complete enjoyment deep inside.’ complete enjoyment deep inside.’ Havana After Dark, Pleasance at EICC, until 25 Aug (not 21), 9pm, £15–£17.50 (£12–£14.50).